The volume is divided into two parts to accommodate both the old and new testaments. Wissenscaftliche untersuchungen zum neuen testament 2, 151. A comprehensive bibliography with notes on history and method leiden. One of the 1998 academy of parish clergy top ten books of the year. The university of north carolina press, 1984, 3985. Hausers old testament essay defines rhetorical criticism as a form of literary criticism that highlights the artistry in the text in order to discuss its message and its impact on audiences. This volume will prove a classic textbook on rhetorical criticism in the bible, especially the hebrew bible. Genealogies of new testament rhetorical criticism troy w. The theory of rhetoric and biblical interpretation, rhetorical interpretation of lukes gospel and acts, the rhetorical interpretation of pauls writings, and.
Rhetorical criticism and the bible logos bible software. The contributors are scholars from north america, britain, continental europe and south africa who focus on four major categories. Reconfiguring rhetoricalpolitical analysis, in rhetorical criticism and the bible. Rhetorical criticism is now an established discipline in new testament. Destructive criticism and the old testament by wayne jackson dr. In attempting to determine the original text of the new testament books, some modern textual critics have identified sections as interpolations. In modern translations of the bible such as the new international version, the results of textual criticism have led to certain verses, words and phrases being left out or marked as not original. Orality, allegory, deconstruction, ideology, sociological criticism, rhetorical criticism, narrative criticism, as well as other themes and methods are discussed in the essays treatment of writings of the new testament. Study of biblical books to assess them from this point of view asks how they accomplish their purpose in communication to the reader.
This volume explores the use of rhetoric in the study of biblical literature. Acts, hebrews, the general epistles and revelation. New testament interpretation through rhetorical criticism provides readers of the bible with an important tool for understanding the scriptures. It is a bit dry at times, but elsewhere is fascinating, and illuminating. Questions and rhetoric in the greek new testament zondervan. Biblical criticism is an umbrella term for those methods of studying the bible that embrace two distinctive perspectives.
Rhetorical criticism became a distinct approach to scripture in 1968, when james muilenburg described the need for it and named the discipline in his sbl presidential address. A rich variety of critical methodologies in contemporary literary study of the new testament. The application of various skills, techniques, knowledge, wisdom, and art to the corpus of ot texts being examined is necessary. The third of ivps critically acclaimed series of dictionaries of the new testament provides focused study on the oftenneglected portions of the new testament. Based on the theory and practice of greek rhetoric in the new testament, george kennedys approach acknowledges that new testament writers wrote to persuade an audience of the truth of their messages. In the first place, about 90 percent of the bible is the same in all manuscripts b. A comprehensive bibliography with notes on history and method biblical interpretation series. George a kennedy, new testament interpretation through rhetorical criticism.
Amador, where could rhetorical criticism still take us. This wellwritten introduction to the method of literary criticism gives the reader an awareness and appreciation of the rich diversity of thought found in the old testament. Mitchell is associate professor of new testament at the. Robbinsand responses from the pioneers themselves or their representatives duane f. Questions and rhetoric in the greek new testament is a helpful and thorough examination of questions in the greek new testament, seen from the standpoint of grammatical, semantic, and linguistic analysis, with special emphasis on their rhetorical effects. The torah, or pentateuch five scrolls, traditionally the most revered portion of the hebrew canon, comprises a series of narratives, interspersed with law codes, providing an account of events from the beginning of the world to the death of moses. Friedman, a professor of hebrew and comparative literature at the university of california san diego, has attracted considerable publicity in recent years with his radical claim that baruch, jeremiahs scribe jeremiah 36. Nov 16, 2009 20 george kennedy, new testament interpretation through rhetorical criticism chapel hill, north carolina, and london, england. New literary criticism and the new testament journal for the. This muchneeded introduction to the ancient art of persuasion in the new testament doesnt only explore the use of rhetorical tools and devices, it introduces everything ancient speakers and writers used to convince their audiences. Mar 30, 2011 rhetorical criticism, like many approaches to biblical interpretation, can be understood and applied in a number of ways to both old testament and new testament studies. Biblical criticism and study of the old testament asbury. It includes charts, tools, and lists that explain and categorize the almost questions. New testament interpretation through rhetorical criticism.
New testament interpretation through rhetorical criticismprovides readers of the bible with an important tool for understanding the scriptures. In view of the current debate on the application of greek and roman rhetoric to biblical texts, c. An introductory guide to the art of persuasion in and of the new testament. Textual criticism and bible translation tim challies. B102 introduction to new testament history and literature. Since then, biblical rhetorical cri ticisms have flourished. The discipline of textual criticism exists because every word is important and we want to ensure that we are reading what its authors intended to write. Context, method, and the book of jonah guides to biblical.
For a detailed study of melanchthons use of rhetorical criticism, see carl joachim classen, rhetorical criticism of the new testament boston. Biblical literature biblical literature old testament literature. May 25, 2015 this situation should not alarm or discourage a bible student. Phyllis trible examines rhetorical criticism as a discipline within biblical studies. Rhetorical criticism analyzes the symbolic artifacts of discoursethe words, phrases, images, gestures, performances, texts, films, etc. Literary criticism involves a close reading of precise details of the text viewed as a unity. Genealogies of new testament rhetorical criticism gathers critical appreciations of five pioneers of rhetorical criticismhans dieter betz, george a. Rhetorical criticism understands a text as dynamic in the sense that it is an instance of. In 1984, his jesus the teacher launched sociorhetorical criticism in new testament studies. It makes comparisons with the content, literary style and structure of other ancient near eastern texts. Rhetorical criticism in old testament studiesindeed, in biblical studies in generalhad its origins in a selfconscious way in 1968, when james muilenburg issued his nowfamous call to go beyond form criticism and focus upon the unique features of a text. New testament interpretation through rhetorical criticism on.
Rhetorical criticism guides to biblical scholarship. However, the importance of ot textual criticism is matched by its complexity. Biblical rhetoric and rhetorical criticism lundbom, jack r. Witherington makes the case that rhetorical criticism is a more fruitful.
New testament interpretation through rhetorical criticism studies. Please note that this title is only available to customers in the usa, canada and mexico. Oct 16, 2008 certainly not for a general reader, but directed more at upper level theology students and scholars, this is a helpful guide to rhetorical criticism, and its importance in new testament studies. The sociorhetorical role of old testament scripture. Literary criticism of the old testament by norman c. Contributions from scholars in north america, britain, continental europe and south africa focus here on four major categories. New testament interpretation through rhetorical criticism george. Voted one ofchristianity todays1998 books of the year. Rhetorical and new literary criticism oxford handbooks. The student is shown how to identify the elements of structure, style, form, language, and composition in the books of the old testament. For a description of the methods and results of source criticism of the pentateuch, see pfeiffer 1948. Few books have changed my thinking on any one particular subject as has this volume by kennedy.
In part one she surveys the historical antecedents of the method from ancient times to the postmodern era. To read and study the ot critically means to do so with a keen discerning judgment. Kennedy, wilhelm wuellner, elisabeth schussler fiorenza, and vernon k. New testament scholar ben witherington argues that rhetorical criticism is a more fruitful approach to the new testament epistles than literary and discourse. His books the tapestry of early christian discourse 1996 and. Rhetorical criticism is treated in the broader context of the growing interest in the study of the literary character of the bible. For our purposes, rhetoric among the ancient greeks can be concisely understood as the art of effective communication.
Biblical literature old testament literature britannica. Save 40% on unc press books during our american history sale. Literary criticism of the old testament guides to biblical. I was trained in new testament academics heavy on the. In the second place most of the variants do not concern significant differences. Fee, modern textual criticism and the revival of the textus receptus, journal of the evangelical theological society 21. The vast array of editions, variants, scribal errors, and proposed solutions need for old testament textual criticism. The sermon on the mount, the sermon on the plain, and the rhetoric of jesus 3972. Joachim classen aims at determining both the opportunities and the limits of such forms of criticism, stressing the importance of supplementing the ancient categories with. Each part begins with a discussion of the history and methodology of rhetorical criticism pertinent to that testament.
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